NEW DELHI: The Opposition is set to gain three seats, while the ruling NDA is expected to maintain its current strength in the biennial elections for 26 Rajya Sabha seats across 10 states and bypolls to two seats in Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu scheduled for June 18.
Announcing the schedule, the Election Commission on Friday said that the elections will be held for four seats each in Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat and Karnataka, three each in Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan, two in Jharkhand and one each in Manipur, Meghalaya, Arunachal Pradesh and Mizoram. In addition, bypolls will be held for one seat each in Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu.
The EC in a statement said that the notifications for the elections would be issued on June 1, as scrutiny of nominations would take place on June 9 and candidates would be allowed to withdraw their nominations till June 11.
The last date for filing nominations is June 8, and polling for the elections will be conducted on June 18, while counting of votes will begin at 5 pm the same day. The date by which the election shall be completed is June 20.
Among the prominent members retiring next month include Congress president and Leader of Opposition in the Rajya Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge, former Prime Minister H. D. Deve Gowda, senior Congress leader Digvijaya Singh, besides two Union ministers Ravneet Singh and George Kurian
Of the 26 seats going to polls, the NDA currently holds 18, the Congress four, the JMM one and the YSRCP three. Based on the present strength of parties in the Assemblies, the NDA is expected to retain around 18 seats, while the Congress may improve its tally to five seats.
The JMM is likely to win two seats and the ruling Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) is expected to open its account in the Upper House with one seat from Tamil Nadu. The bypolls were necessitated after NCP leader Sunetra Pawar and AIADMK leader C. Ve. Shanmugam resigned from the Rajya Sabha following their election to the state assemblies.
In Maharashtra, the NDA is comfortably placed to retain the seat vacated by Sunetra Pawar. In Tamil Nadu, the lone seat is expected to go to the TVK with the support of allies.
In Andhra Pradesh, the TDP led NDA is poised to secure all four seats, while it has been speculated that the BJP may field former Tamil Nadu BJP chief K Annamalai from the state. In Gujarat, the BJP is expected to win all four seats, with the Congress likely to lose its only representation from the state.
In Karnataka, the Congress is set to secure three of the four seats, leaving one for the BJP. Kharge is expected to be renominated to the Upper House. In Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan, the BJP is expected to win two seats each, while the Congress is likely to get one seat in both states.
In Jharkhand, the ruling JMM- Congress alliance is expected to win both seats, though the BJP may attempt to force a contest. In the previous biennial elections held in March this year, the BJP secured 13 of the 37 seats contested across 10 states.
NDA comfortable, TVK to open account
Of the 26 seats going to polls, the NDA currently holds 18, Congress four, JMM one and YSRCP three. Based on the present strength of parties in Assemblies, the NDA is expected to retain around 18 seats, while Congress may improve its tally to five. The JMM is likely to win two seats and TVK is expected to open its account.
